ANOVA	analysis of variance
BCA	bicinchoninic acid
BSA	bovine serum albumin
CLSM	confocal laser scanning microscopy
DMEM	Dulbecco’s modified Eagles medium
ECACC	European Collection of Cell Cultures
HBSS	Hanks’ balanced salt solution
HEPES	4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid
FAAS	flame atomic absorption spectrometry
FCS	fetal calf serum
FD	(FITC)-Dextran
FITC	fluorescein isothiocyanate
ICP-MS	inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry
NAC	N-acetylcysteine
NEAA	non-essential amino acids
PAR	4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol
PAS	periodic acid Schiff
Papp	apparent permeability
PBS	phosphate buffered saline
TBS	tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris)-buffered saline
TBST	tris-buffered saline with Tween 20
TEER	transepithelial electrical resistance
TPEN	N,N,N′,N′-Tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine
ZnT	zinc transporter
ZIP	Zrt Irt-like transporter
Zincon	2-carboxy-2′-hydroxy-5′-sulfoformazylbenzene monosodium salt